The Transportation Minister is seeking to involve universities in reviewing the operational readiness of two national strategic projects: Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail (KCJB) and the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi (Jabodebek) light rail transit (LRT).

“Zero accident must be our main principle, especially since these two projects are full of new technology. I come to invite Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to get involved as expert assistants in reviewing the readiness of the project together with consultants Crossrail International, assigned by the UK Department for Transportation,” Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said during a visit to the transportation laboratory of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering of UGM, according to a statement received here on Friday.

He informed that his ministry wants the two projects to have good construction, excellent service, and safety standards once they are operationalized.

It is hoped that in the future, the two projects will have the same quality as the Shinkansen high-speed trains operating in Japan, the minister said.

In addition, Sumadi called for an increase in the domestic content level (TKDN) in transportation infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of UGM, Selo, expressed gratitude for the Ministry of Transportation’s step to involve the university in the transportation infrastructure development project.

According to Selo, this is an opportunity to contribute to the development of transportation infrastructure, especially technology, in the railway sector.

“Thank you for the opportunity given by the Ministry of Transportation in the railway’s sector. This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to contribute to building technological independence,” he remarked.

He said he hopes that this involvement will become an opportunity for Indonesia to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.

“This is also an opportunity for us to master the technology. We can cut our dependency on foreign technology in the future. We could finally have an independent decision in our own projects,” he added.

“This is an opportunity for us to master little by little, even though we are just integrating, it is an opportunity for us to master, at least we are not dependent on certain vendors so that we have the discretion to choose; this is an independent decision,” he said.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Railways, Zulmafendi; director of railway traffic and transportation, Mohamad Risal Wasal; representatives from PT KAI, PT LEN, PT INKA, PT Adhi Karya; and a number of related officials accompanied the minister during the visit.

Source: Antara News